Leadership position a growing experience

OUTGOING Latrobe Mayor Mike Gaffney said the good turn-up of people at a June workshop for new council election candidates was an encouraging sign.

When Cr Gaffney was elected at 33 it was unusual for someone so young to be mayor but these days he said councils were no longer seen as a retirement village.

Councillors need skills and acumen to run as a board, Cr Gaffney said.

Under local government reforms he was forced to choose between dual-roles as mayor and Mersey MLC and has reluctantly given up the mayoral role he still enjoys doing.

Cr Gaffney was not a fan of the introduction of all-in and all-out council elections every four years.

He said the election of half councillors every two years gave the community a chance to vote on how a council was going and left experience at the table.

Cr Gaffney said people would be willing to put their hands up to run for a council where there was an environment they felt they were going to be able to contribute to.

"You can't have dysfunctional councils where staff and councillors are not working together," he said.

"The relationship between the councillors, council staff and the community is important.

"I only ever thought I would do two terms but I have enjoyed it that much from a personal point of view and to see the municipality grow and improve over 21 years that I have been there a much longer time."

Cr Gaffney said that local government had given him many opportunities to improve as a person and he enjoyed being able to assist other individuals and groups.

"You've got to go into it with the view that I can make a difference and want to work with people - not just go in with a view to sort them out."

Cr Gaffney said being busy suits him.

"If you want something done give it to a busy person," he said

"Involvement in local government is a terrific opportunity to network and to get to know more people in your community."

Latrobe Mayor Mike Gaffney is reluctantly giving up his role to concentrate on his position as Mersey MLC. Picture: Jason Hollister.